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Anyone have any experience with Intercaribbean Airlines? I just bought r/t tickets for sju - eis for next spring and I am looking to see if I have anything to worry about with them (like LIAT!). I picked up the tickets for $173 r/t so I could not pass up the deal <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />!

I will have a little under 2 hours to connect in San Juan, any worries with time if we are all taking carry on's?

Mike

That price is a deal. Buy insurance?

They have 4 types of aircraft yet only 7 total airframes one of which is wet leased out. That would worry me a bit, I suspect there may be schedule changes between now and the spring.
G

I noticed that their schedule is about 3 days a week until the end of the year then they ramp up to 7 days a week during the time I booked. Possibly ramping up to grab their share? If they keep the prices at the range I bought mine for they should do very well. Personally, I would rather do the sju - eis vs rolling the dice with the "ferry shuffle" so to say.

If nothing else it may force other airlines to drop prices to something reasonable. SJU to EIS has to be one of the highest yielding routes on a per mile basis in the world.
On a related note Cape Air is purchasing 100 new aircraft to replace their aging 402's. They will seat 10 instead of 9 and should operate at a lower cost and avoid the current weight issues.
G

http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/2016041...air-makes-debut

We sure hope so! Trying to get to Vegas for DEMA dive trade show in Nov...Cape Air R/T EIS-SJU is $650 and Seaborne is $749. PLUS a checked bag. You guys can't afford to get here and we can't afford to leave!!!

Jeff

Seaborne has a fare sale through tomorrow, travel by Dec. 20, $89 San Juan to Tortola.

Yeah, they say that, until you actually try to book and then it's $349 one-way. All fares are SOLD OUT except for the Economy Unrestricted. For days and days, they are sold out. Except there are only 10-15 people getting off the plane when it lands!

I can't speak to this fare sale, but I think our tickets SJU-EIS for Dec. 2 were maybe $120. We had Southwest miles to use up, so we bought separate tickets this time.

George, that is great to hear that seaborne is acquiring new air frames. Now, lets see if they us them to increase capacity in certain markets and get a little easier on the wallet for the customer!

Dive BVI, I hear you on the fare cost. I almost gave up on the sju-eis option when I originally saw the airfare at $700 pp. Jet blue announced a code share with seaborne a few weeks ago. I looked at their r/t ticket price from chicago to Beef Island, they wanted $1,500 per r/t ticket, that is nuts.

This is our first trip (of many to come) bringing our kids down with us, so flying directly into Beef Island is a easier on us parents vs screwing around with the ferry.

My big question is why are the rates from sju - eis so out of wack? Greed/lack of competition? Was fairly affordable when american eagle was present.

Mike

Mike, it's actually Cape Air that is buying new aircraft. First delivery is over 2 years away however.
The fares are up for the reason you mention. American was flying 64 seat ATR's into EIS. 6 0f them a day was 384 seats. All the other airlines combined probably don't have more then 200 seats a day now verses 500 or so total back then. Supply and demand. Very limited supply combined with the BVI government utter failure to address the ferry situation have insured strong demand.

At least with a ticket book the Cape air fares are competitive at $200 each way.

That is still vastly over priced though!

Yes but competitive with air sunshune

Note how much some routes are subsidized to make Cape Air viable and affordable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service

Warren,

i paid $173 r/t pp. That is inline with were the airfare used to be when American was still running the route. $400 is a very expensive 30 minute flight anywhere else!

Storm Jib, that is interesting stuff. They have a fair amount of help! My question is if they are getting some sort of subsidy, how can smaller carriers from countries who may not have as deep of pocket offer lower fares!

Cape Air is not subsidized in the Caribbean.
G

That link to Wikipedia says they are on SJU to MAZ.